| 小隐隐于林，大隐隐于市 |
xiǎo yǐn yǐn yú lín , dà yǐn yǐn yú shì |
an ordinary hermit lives in the seclusion of the woods; the true recluse chooses the city (idiom) |
| 小 |
xiǎo |
small / tiny / few / young |
| 隐 |
yǐn |
(bound form) secret; hidden; concealed; crypto- |
| 隐 |
yìn |
to lean upon |
| 隐隐 |
yǐn yǐn |
faint / indistinct |
| 隐 |
yǐn |
(bound form) secret; hidden; concealed; crypto- |
| 隐 |
yìn |
to lean upon |
| 于 |
Yú |
surname Yu |
| 于 |
yú |
to go / to take / sentence-final interrogative particle / variant of 于 |
| 于 |
yú |
(of time or place) in; at; on / (indicating any indirect relation) to; toward; vis-à-vis; with regard to; for / (indicating a source) from; out of / (used in comparison) than / (used in the passive voice) by |
| 林 |
Lín |
surname Lin / Japanese surname Hayashi |
| 林 |
lín |
(bound form) woods; forest / (bound form) circle(s) (i.e. specific group of people) / (bound form) a collection (of similar things) |
| 大 |
dà |
big; large; great / older (than another person) / eldest (as in 大姐) / greatly; freely; fully / (dialect) father / (dialect) uncle (father's brother) |
| 大 |
dài |
see 大夫 |
| 隐 |
yǐn |
(bound form) secret; hidden; concealed; crypto- |
| 隐 |
yìn |
to lean upon |
| 隐隐 |
yǐn yǐn |
faint / indistinct |
| 隐 |
yǐn |
(bound form) secret; hidden; concealed; crypto- |
| 隐 |
yìn |
to lean upon |
| 于 |
Yú |
surname Yu |
| 于 |
yú |
to go / to take / sentence-final interrogative particle / variant of 于 |
| 于 |
yú |
(of time or place) in; at; on / (indicating any indirect relation) to; toward; vis-à-vis; with regard to; for / (indicating a source) from; out of / (used in comparison) than / (used in the passive voice) by |
| 市 |
shì |
market / city / municipality (administrative unit) / (literary) to trade; to buy and sell goods |